Remote control toy, radio unit and drive unit used for the same, and idenfication-code setting method for the same

ABSTRACT

In a remote control toy ( 1 ) including a radio unit ( 2 ) and a drive unit ( 3 ) which is remotely controlled based on a control signal from the radio unit ( 2 ), the radio unit ( 2 ) detects transmission situations of control signals from other radio units ( 2 ), and selects one unused identification code based on detection results. Moreover, the radio unit ( 2 ) generates a code notification signal to instruct setting of the selected identification code to the drive unit ( 3 ), and transmits the generated code notification signal. In the drive unit ( 3 ), the code notification signal is received, the selected identification code is discriminated based on the received code notification signal, and the discriminated identification code is set as the own identification code.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a remote control toy which remotelycontrols a drive unit according to a control signal from a radio unit,and to the radio unit, the drive unit, and so on, which are used for theremote control toy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There has been known a remote control toy (Refer to the Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2002-238083) in remote control toys comprisinga radio unit and a drive unit which is remotely controlled based on acontrol signal from the radio unit. According to the remote control toydescribed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-238083, anyone of a plurality of predetermined identification codes is transmittedfrom the radio unit under a state in which the code is included in thecontrol signal, the radio unit decides a transmit timing at which theradio unit itself transmits the control signal after receiving controlsignals containing identification codes transmitted from other radiounits, the drive unit judges, based on the identification code set asthe own one, and the identification code included in the control signal,whether remote control can be performed according to the control signal.The remote control toy in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2002-238083 has a configuration in which both of the radio unit and thedrive unit can change identification-code setting by switchingoperation. There is also a remote control toy with a configuration inwhich setting of an identification code for a drive unit can be changedby notifying the identification code, which a user has selected, using aswitch at the side of an radio unit, to the drive unit.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

However, when the selection of the identification code is entrusted tothe user, there is a possibility that the user can not enjoy a game dueto disparity between the selected identification code and a correct oneunless the correct identification code is selected by the user. Userswho are trying to participate later in a game which has been alreadyplayed is required to confirm identification codes which have beenalready used, and to select an identification code among ones which arenot used. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the above proceduresfor setting cause great inconvenience to the users trying to participatein the game.

Then, the object of the present invention is to provide a remote controltoy, and the like, in which an appropriate identification code can beset in a radio unit and a drive unit without any special operationsrequired to a user for selecting the identification code. Hereinafter,the present invention will be explained.

The above-described object is achieved by a remote control toy whichcomprises a radio unit; and a drive unit to be remotely controlled basedon a control signal from the radio unit, the radio unit transmitting thecontrol signal including any one code being set to itself among aplurality of predetermined identification codes, receiving controlsignals including the identification codes transmitted from other radiounits, and deciding a transmit timing of an own control signal, and thedrive unit judging based on the identification code being set to itselfand the identification codes included in the control signals, whetherremote control can be performed or not according to the control signal,wherein the radio unit has an identification-code selection device whichdetects control signals from the other radio units, responding tosatisfaction of predetermined identification-code set conditions, andselects one unused identification code based on a detection results toset the selected code as an own identification code, anotification-signal generation device which generates a codenotification signal to notify the identification code selected by theidentification-code selection device to the drive unit, and anotification-signal transmission device which transmits the generatedcode notification signal, and the drive unit has a notification-signalreceiving device which receives the code notification signal, a codediscrimination device which discriminates the selected identificationcode, based on the received code notification signal, and a code setdevice which sets the discriminated identification code as an ownidentification code.

According to the present invention, the identification codes which havealready been used in a range in which radio interference occurs with theradio units can be discriminated by receiving the control signals fromother radio units and by decoding them, because the control signal sentfrom the radio unit includes the identification code for remote controlof the drive unit. Further, by specifying an unused identification codefrom a plurality of predetermined identification codes, the radio unititself can select an identification code which does not overlap withthose of other radio units, and the identification code can be set as anown identification code. Moreover, the code notification signal whichinstructs the drive unit to set the identification code selected in theradio unit can be transmitted from the radio unit. Then, by receivingthe code notification signal at the drive unit, the drive unit candiscriminate the identification code to be set as the own identificationcode, and can set the identification code as the own code. As describedabove, since an identification code can be automatically set in both ofthe radio unit and the drive unit, users are not required to select theidentification code. Accordingly, a possibility of wrong setting byusers can be eliminated, and an appropriate identification code can beset at any time.

In a remote control toy according to the present invention, theidentification-code set conditions are satisfied when a first specificoperation indispensable for starting a game is executed to the radiounit, and the identification-code selection device in the radio unit maystart detection of the control signal. In this case, a uniqueidentification code which does not overlap with those of other radiounits can be set at a starting point of a game without fail. Moreover,the above configuration is convenient for users because setting of anidentification code is automatically started only by operating the radiounit for starting a game. Here, the first specific operation may beappropriately set according to a configuration, and an operation methodof the radio unit, and the like. However, when a power-on operation tothe radio unit is assumed to be the first specific operation, automaticsetting of the identification code can be executed without fail.

The identification-code selection device can discriminate a remainingidentification code except identification codes included in the detectedcontrol signal among the plurality of identification codes as the unusedidentification code. When there are two or more identification codeswhich have been judged as unused, it is preferable that theidentification-code selection device selects any one of theidentification codes according to a predetermined order. Accordingly,there is caused no possibility that useless confusion occurs becausethere is regularity for selecting the identification code. For example,when numbers form the identification code, the identification code canbe selected in the increasing order or the decreasing one.

In a remote control toy according to the present invention, there may beapplied a configuration in which the control signal includesinstruction-decide information for deciding whether setting of theidentification code has been instructed or not in the codediscrimination device, the notification-signal generation device, whileincluding in the control signal an identification code which theidentification-code selection device has selected, generates the codenotification signal by setting the instruction-decide information in astate in which setting of the identification code is instructed, and thenotification-signal transmission device transmits the code notificationsignal at a transmit timing corresponding to the identification code setin the code notification signal.

In a remote control toy according to the present invention, the controlsignal sent to the drive unit from the radio unit includes theidentification code in order to discriminate a relationship between theradio unit and the drive unit. Accordingly, the instruction decideinformation may be very small data such as one-bit flag. Accordingly,even if the instruction decide information is included in controlsignals which are repeatedly transmitted from the radio unit, there isno significant increase in the data sizes of the control signals and thetime required for transmission. Furthermore, if the control signalfunctions as also a code notification signal by including theinstruction decide information in the control signal, the codenotification signal can be made or transmission can be performed byusing hardware resources and software processing for transmitting andreceiving control signals in a configuration, and the configuration ofthe radio unit is simplified. Further, since a code notification signalcan be received and decoded by using hardware resources and softwareprocessing for receiving control signal, even in the drive unit, theconfiguration can be preferably simplified.

Here, when the code notification signal is formed by using the controlsignal, there may be applied a configuration in which the codediscrimination device in the drive unit discriminates, based on theinstruction-decide information included in the control signal, whethersetting of the identification code has been instructed or not, and, whenit is decided that the setting of the identification code has beeninstructed, the identification code included in the control signalgiving the instruction is decided to be as the selected identificationcode. In this case, the identification code included in the controlsignal functions not only as information which judges whether remotecontrol is required or not, but also as information which specifies anidentification code to be set in the drive unit. Thereby, the automaticset function of the identification codes can be added without remarkablemodifications in or additions to the existing control signals.

There may be also applied a configuration in which the drive unit mayhave a setting control device which switches enabling and disablingsetting of the identification code, the code set device sets theidentification code based on the code notification signal, when settingof the identification code has been enabled by the setting controldevice, and the code set device does not set the identification codebased on the code notification signal, when setting of theidentification code has been disabled by the setting control device.

When setting of the identification code based on the code notificationsignal is enabled at any time, there is caused a possibility that awrong identification code is set in the drive unit for which anotheridentification code has been already set. In a configuration in whichsetting of the identification code can be disabled, the above-describedpossibility can be removed.

There may be also applied a configuration in which, in the settingcontrol device, setting of the identification code is enabled only for apredetermined set enabling period after a second specific operationindispensable for starting a game is performed in the drive unit, and,setting of the identification code is disabled thereafter. In this case,since setting of the identification code based on the code notificationsignal from the radio unit is enabled in a limited period of time fromthe starting point of a game, there is caused no possibility that awrong identification code is set again at an arbitrary period after thestarting point of the game. Here, the second specific operation may beappropriately set according to a configuration, and an operation methodof the drive unit, and the like. However, when a power-on operation tothe drive unit is assumed to be the second specific operation, there canbe without fail provided an opportunity to set the identification codeat the starting point of a game.

In a remote control toy according to the present invention, there may bealso applied a configuration in which the identification code is set ineach of the radio unit and the drive unit by storing an identificationcode selected by the identification-code selection device in a storagedevice of each of the radio unit and the drive unit. The storage devicemay be a volatile storage device such as RAM, which requires a memoryholding operation, or a nonvolatile storage device such as EEPROM, whichdoes not require the memory holding operation. Since the identificationcode is lost by the power cut-off in the former case, an embodiment inwhich automatic setting of the identification code is linked to thepower-on operation can be preferably applied.

The radio unit may be provided with a set reservation device whichreserves setting of the identification code when it is judged in thecode selection device, from detection results of control signals fromthe other radio units, that there is no unused identification code. Inthis case, since the identification code is not set when all theplurality of identification codes are used, there can be removed apossibility without fail that same identification codes are set in twoor more radio units and drive units to overlap one another in a range inwhich radio interference occurs.

In a remote control toy according to the present invention, aselection-result notification device which notifies the identificationcode selected by the identification code selection device to users maybe provided in at least either of the radio unit and the drive unit. Inthis case, users can confirm the identification code which has beenautomatically set in the radio unit and the drive unit. Even if anidentification code can be selected, it is convenient that usersthemselves can discriminate an unused identification code, referring tothe selection result information device, when a radio unit and a driveunit without the automatic set function are added later.

A radio unit according to the present invention, the radio unit beingcapable of transmitting a control signal for remote control of a driveunit, including any one code being set to itself among a plurality ofpredetermined identification codes in the control signal to transmit, inorder to specify the drive unit to be required remotely to be controlledbased on the control signal, and receiving the control signals includingthe identification codes transmitted from other radio units to decide atransmit timing of an own control signal, wherein the radio unitcomprises: an identification-code selection device which detects controlsignals from the other radio units, responding to satisfaction ofpredetermined identification-code set conditions, and selects one unusedidentification code based on the detection results to set the selectedcode as an own identification code; a notification-signal generationdevice which generates a code notification signal to notify theidentification code selected by the identification code selection deviceto the drive unit; and a notification-signal transmission device whichtransmits the generated code notification signal.

Moreover, a drive unit according to the present invention, judging,based on an identification code included in a control signal from aradio unit and the identification code being set to itself, whetherremote control can be performed or not according to the control signal,wherein the drive unit comprises: a notification-signal receiving devicewhich receives a code notification signal sent from the radio unit inorder to notify the identification code which is set by the radio toitself unit as an own identification code; a code discrimination devicewhich discriminates the identification code which has been set by theradio unit, based on the received code notification signal; and a codeset device which sets the discriminated identification code as an ownidentification code.

By combining the above radio units and drive units, the above describedremote control toy according to the present invention can be realized.

Furthermore, a method for setting an identification code for a remotecontrol toy according to the present invention, the remote control toycomprising a radio unit and a drive unit being remotely controlled basedon a control signal from the radio unit; the radio unit transmitting thecontrol signal including any one of identification codes set to itselfamong a plurality of predetermined identification codes, receivingcontrol signals including the identification codes transmitted fromother radio units and deciding a transmit timing of an own controlsignal; the drive unit judging, based on the identification code set toitself and the identification codes included in the control signals,whether remote control can be performed or not according to the controlsignal, wherein the method includes in the radio unit, a procedure fordetecting control signals from the other radio units, responding tosatisfaction of predetermined identification-code set conditions, andselecting one unused identification code based on the detection resultsto set the selected code as an own identification code, a procedure forgenerating a code notification signal to notify the identification codeselected by the identification-code selection device to the drive unit,and a procedure for transmitting the generated code notification signal,and in the drive unit, a procedure for receiving the code notificationsignal, a procedure for discriminating the selected identification codebased on the received code notification signal, and a procedure forsetting the discriminated identification code as an own identificationcode.

According to the method for setting an identification code, anidentification code can be automatically set in both of the radio unitand the drive unit by the similar effect to that of the above-describedremote control toy. Accordingly, users are not required to select anidentification code, and an appropriate identification code can be setat any time by removing a possibility of wrong settings by users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a remote control systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of external appearances of a radio unit anda drive unit;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the radio unit;

FIG. 4 is a bock diagram of a tank model;

FIG. 5 is a view showing transmit timings which transmit pieces of datafor radio units shown in FIG. 2 and tank models shown in FIG. 3, and astructure of data transmitted from the radio unit;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing procedures for a control routine forpower-on operation, which is executed by a microcomputer in the radiounit shown in FIG. 2 before the own data start to transmit after turningon the power;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing procedures for a control routine fornormal operation, which is executed by the microcomputer in the radiounit shown in FIG. 2 after the routine in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing procedures for a control routine for IDsetting, which is executed by a microcomputer in the tank model shown inFIG. 3 to receive ID-number notification signal from the radio unit toset the own ID number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a remote control toy according to thepresent invention. In this embodiment, a remote control toy 1 comprisesa set of a radio unit 2 and a drive unit 3, and a remote control toysystem 4 includes a plurality of (two sets in FIG. 1) remote controltoys 1. In one remote control toy system 4, any one of identificationnumbers (ID numbers) of 1 to 4 is set for the radio unit 2 and the driveunit 3 as an identification code so that the identification codes do notoverlap one another. The radio unit 2 and the drive unit 3, which have asame ID number with each other, form one set of remote control toy 1.The drive unit 3 is remotely controlled only by a control signal fromthe radio unit 2 with the same ID number as that of the drive unit 3.Further, other radio units 2 receive the control signal from the radiounit 2, and each of the other radio units 2 decides a transmit timing,at which the own control signal is transmitted, referring to ID codes inthe control signals from other radio unit 2. Furthermore, signals arealso transmitted and received among the drive units 3 in order torealize a game based on communication among the drive units 3.

More specifically, FIG. 2 shows the remote control toy 1. In thisembodiment, the drive unit 3 is formed as a tank model with a shape of atank. Hereinafter, “drive unit 3” is called “tank model 3”. In the frontof the radio unit 2, a backward-and-forward movement lever 5 whichinstructs the tank model 3 to move backward or forward, a turn lever 6which instructs the tank model 3 to change the moving direction, a powersupply switch 7, and the like are provided as an operation member to beoperated by users. Moreover, a LED indicator 8 which displays an IDnumber set by after-described processing is also provided there. The LEDindicator 8 has a configuration in which four LEDs (light-emittingdiode) each of which corresponds to an ID number of 1 to 4 one by one,are arranged in the vertical direction. However, the LED indicator 8 isnot necessarily limited to the above configuration, but anotherconfiguration, for example, may be configured so that a set ID number isdisplayed as a numerical value, may be applied.

Moreover, a transmitting and receiving window 9 for control signal ofremote control is provided on the upper part of the radio unit 2, and aROM cartridge 10 is installed as an external storage in the lower partof the unit 2. The ROM cartridge 10 can be inserted into or extractedfrom a socket (not shown) of the radio unit 2. Among pieces of datarequired for controlling operations of the tank model 3, pieces of datato be changed according to the kind of the tank model 3, for example,parameters showing performances such as attack capability and defensecapability of the tank model 3 are stored in internal ROMs (not shown)of the ROM cartridge 10.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the radio unit 2. Theradio unit 2 is provided with a microcomputer 11. The microcomputer 11executes various kinds of calculations and control operations, which arerequired for remote control of the tank model 3, according to programsand data recorded in a built-in ROM 12 and an internal RAM 13.Information corresponding to operation states of a shooting switch 14,as well as information corresponding to operation states of theabove-described backward-and-forward movement lever 5 and turn lever 6,is input into the microcomputer 11 as information to be referred for theabove mentioned control. The shooting switch 14 is provided at aposition, for example, on the back side of the radio unit 2 so that afinger of a user holding the radio unit 2 reaches the shooting switch14.

The power supply switch 7 is arranged between a power supply battery 15and a power supply circuit 16. When the power supply switch 7 is turnedon, electric power is supplied from the power supply battery 15 to thepower supply circuit 16, and electric power required for operations ofthe microcomputer 11 is supplied from the power supply circuit 16 to themicrocomputer 11. The microcomputer 11 reads the data in the ROMcartridge 10 at turning the power on to store it in the RAM 13, and, atthe same time, decides the own ID number. The method to set the IDnumber is described later.

A transmitting section 17 and a receiving section 18 are connected tothe microcomputer 11, respectively. The microcomputer 11 generatespieces of digital data by which operations of the tank model 3 areinstructed according to the operation situations of the operationmembers such as the backward-and-forward movement lever 5, and thegenerated pieces of digital data are delivered to the transmittingsection 17. The transmitting section 17 converts the supplied data intoan analog signal, and outputs a control signal with a predeterminedcarrier wave on which the analog signal has been superimposed. Infraredrays or radio waves with a specific frequency band can be used as acarrier wave. Moreover, the receiving section 18 receives controlsignals transmitted form other radio units 2, and converts analogsignals that carrier wave components are removed from the controlsignals are converted into pieces of digital data to be delivered to themicrocomputer 11. These transmitting section 17 and receiving section 18are provided inside the transmitting and receiving window 9.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tank model 3 is also provided with amicrocomputer 21. The microcomputer 21 executes various kinds ofcalculations and controls according to programs and data recorded in abuilt-in ROM 22 and an internal RAM 23, wherein the above calculationsand controls are required for operation of the tank model 3 incorrespondence with the control signal sent from the radio unit 2. Aleft drive motor 25L and a right drive motor 25R which separatelycontrol a pair of crawlers 3 a (refer to FIG. 2) on either side of thetank model 3, respectively, are connected as devices to be controlled tothe microcomputer 21 through a motor driver 24. Moreover, anafter-described LED 26 for confirmation of ID setting is connected tothe microcomputer 21. Furthermore, a power supply battery 27 and a powersupply switch 28 for power supply to the microcomputer 21 and the motors25L and 25R are provided in the tank model 3. When the power supplyswitch 28 is turned on, electric power is supplied from the power supplybattery 27 to a power supply circuit 29, and electric power required foroperations of the microcomputer 21 is supplied from the power supplycircuit 29 to the microcomputer 21. The ID number of the tank model 3 isset according to an instruction from the radio unit 2, and the set IDnumber is stored in the RAM 23.

Moreover, a receiving section 30 and a transmitting section 31 areconnected to the microcomputer 21 respectively. The receiving section 30receives the control signal transmitted from the radio unit 2, andshooting signals transmitted from other tank models 3, and convertsanalog signals that carrier wave components are removed from the abovesignals into pieces of digital data to be delivered to the microcomputer21. Further, the transmitting section 31 converts pieces of shootingdata output from the microcomputer 21 into analog signals, and transmitsshooting signals with a predetermined carrier wave on which the analogsignals have been superimposed. Though infrared rays or radio waves witha specific frequency band can be used as a carrier wave for the shootingsignals, it is preferable to use the infrared rays for more improveddirectivity of shooting. The receiving section 30 and the transmittingsection 31 may be provided at appropriate positions in the tank model 3,respectively.

Here, in the present embodiment, carrier waves for control signalstransmitted from all the radio units 2, and carrier waves for shootingsignals transmitted from all the tank models 3 are common to oneanother. However, a carrier wave used for transmission from a radio unit2, and a carrier wave used for transmission from a tank model 3 may bedifferent from one another.

FIG. 5 shows a transmit timing at which a control signal from the radiounit 2, and a shooting signal from the tank model 3 (hereinafter, thesesignals are sometimes called as transmit data), and a configuration of atransmit data from the radio unit 2. A time axis AX1 in the upper partand a time axis AX2 in the lower part of FIG. 5 indicate a transmittiming of the transmit data from the radio unit 2 and a transmit timingof the transmit data from the tank model 3, respectively. As seen fromFIG. 5, the transmit timings for each radio unit 2 have a duration ofT1, and the transmit timings for each radio unit 2 are arranged at apredetermined order (in the decreasing order of the ID numbers here)with idle times of T2 between the transmit timings so that the timingsdo not overlap one another. Further, the transmit timing of each tankmodel 3 is set as a slightly shorter duration than the idle time of T2,and the transmit timing of each tank model 3 is set within the idle timefollowing the transmit timing for a radio unit 2 the ID number of whichis the same as the tank model 3. Thereby, a transmit timing of T3 isallocated to a set of a radio unit 2 and a tank model 3, and, in thewhole remote control toy system 4, transmission from each radio unit 2and each tank model 3 is repeated in a period of T4, becausetransmit-timings T3 for four sets are secured. Such allocation of thetransmit timing of such transmit data is shared among all the radiounits 2 and the tank models 3 forming the remote control toy system 4.

Moreover, as seen from FIG. 5, transmit data (hereinafter, calledtransmit data of one block) output from the radio unit 2 during onetransmission period includes: an ID number; an ID set flag; motor driveinformation; a shooting instruction flag; and the like. The ID number isdata of two bits which indicates the ID number stored in the RAM 13 ofradio unit 2. The ID set flag is a flag to decide at the side of thetank model 3 whether it is instructed to store the ID number in the RAM23 or not, and functions as instruction-decide information. When settingof the ID number (storing in the RAM 23) is instructed, “1” is set as anID set flag. The motor drive information is data which instructs thedrive speeds of the drive motors 25L and 25R which have been computed bythe microcomputer 11 in the radio unit 2, based on the operation statesof the backward-and-forward movement lever 5 and the turn lever 6.Furthermore, the shooting instruction flag is a flag by which it isjudged at the side of the tank model 3 whether shooting has beeninstructed or not by operation of the shooting switch 14, and, whenshooting has been instructed, for example, “1” is set.

When the microcomputer 21 in the tank model 3 receives the transmit datafrom the radio unit 2, the radio unit 2 judges whether the ID numberincluded in the transmit data is in agreement with the ID number storedin the own RAM 23. When not in the agreement, the microcomputer 21decides that operation control based on the transmit data is notrequired, and ignores the transmit data. On the other hand, when thetransmit data having the ID number in agreement with the ID number inthe RAM 23 is received, the operation of the motors 25L and 25R iscontrolled according to the motor drive information included in thetransmit data. Moreover, when shooting is instructed by the shootinginstruction flag in the transmit data having the ID number in agreementwith the ID number in the RAM 23, the microcomputer 21 of the tank model3 allows a predetermined shooting signal to be output from thetransmitting section 31 at the transmit timing allocated for the own IDnumber. Thereby, the shooting signal is output from the tank model 3,responding to the operation of the shooting switch 14 in the radio unit2. When the shooting signal from the tank model 3 is received in thereceiving sections 30 of other tank models 3, it means that the othertank models 3 are shot, and a predetermined action (for example,blinking of the LED 26) is executed. Since the processing by whichmutual shooting among such tank models 3 is realized is not the mainpoint of the present invention, the more detailed description will beeliminated.

Subsequently, setting of the ID number for the radio unit 2 and the tankmodel 3 will be explained. FIG. 6 shows a control routine for power-onoperation, which the radio unit 2 executes to set the own ID number andthe transmit timing of the control signal (transmit data).

When microcomputer 11 is powered by on-operation of the power supplyswitch 7 in the radio unit 2, the microcomputer 11 executes the routinein FIG. 6, following a predetermined initialization processing. At astep S1, the microcomputer 11 executes setting operation of a timer fortime over. In order to make all the transmit data of the ID numbers 1 to4 detectable, the time to be set of the timer is equal to or longer thanthe period T4. At a subsequent step S2, blinking of the LED indicator 8is started. At the next step S3, it is judged whether data has beenreceived from other radio unit 2 or not, and, when received, theprocessing proceeds to a step S4 for detection of the ID number includedin the transmit data. At a subsequent step S5, the detected ID number isstored as the ID number under use in the RAM 13. Then, the processingproceeds to a step S6, at which it is judged whether clocking hasfinished in the timer for time over. When not finished, the processingreturns to the step S3. When the judgement at the step S3 is No, thesteps S4 and S5 are skipped.

When clocking has finished in the timer for time over, the processingproceeds to a step S7, at which it is judged whether there are leftunused ID numbers which are obtained by removing the ID numbers underuse, which are stored in the RAM 13 and under use, from all thepredetermined ID numbers (1 to 4, here). When there is no unused IDnumber, the processing returns to the step S1. Therefore, when the powerof the radio unit 2 is turned on, and four radio units 2 have alreadyexisted, that is, all the ID numbers 1 to 4 have been used, processingat the steps S1 to S7 is repeated until the use of any one of the radiounits 2 is stopped to make an unused ID number. According to the aboveprocessing, the microcomputer 11 functions as a set reservation device.Users can know by repeating blinking of the LED indicator 8 that thereis no unused ID number and an ID number can not be further set.

On the other hand, when there is an unused ID number at the step S7, theprocessing proceeds to a step S8, at which the ID number which is usedfor the radio unit 2 is selected from unused ID numbers and the selectedID number is stored in RAM 13. Thereby, the microcomputer 11 functionsas an identification-code selection device. Here, when there is only oneunused ID number, the only one ID number is selected. When there are aplurality of unused ID numbers, the ID number may be selected in apredetermined order. For example, the ID numbers may be selected in theincreasing order.

After selecting the ID number, the processing proceeds to a step S9, atwhich an ID-number notification signal (equivalent to a codenotification signal) is made. By the above processing, the microcomputer11 functions as a communication-signal generation device. The ID-numbernotification signal is made by setting the ID number selected at thestep S8 as an ID number in the transmit data shown in FIG. 5, and, atthe same time, by setting a value “1”, which instructs storing of the IDnumber, as the ID set instruction flag. That is, the control signalfunctions as an ID-number notification signal by including the ID setinstruction flag in the control signal from the radio unit 2.

At a subsequent step S10, the selected ID number is displayed by the LEDindicator 8. Thereby, the LED indicator 8 functions as aselection-result notification device. Thereafter, the processingproceeds to a step S11, at which a transmit timing corresponding to theID number is decided. That is, the transmission schedule in FIG. 5 isstudied, referring to the transmit timings of data transmitted from eachradio unit 2 while repeating the processing at the steps S3 to S6, and atransmit timing corresponding to the own ID number is decided accordingto the study result. Then, when the decided transmit timing comes, theprocessing proceeds to a step S12, at which the ID-number notificationsignal which has been previously generated starts transmitting. Thereby,the transmitting section 17 functions as a notification-signaltransmission device. The routine in FIG. 6 is completed by transmissionof the ID-number notification signal, and subsequently a control routinefor normal operation in FIG. 7 is executed.

Here, when there is no received transmit data while repeating theprocessing at the steps S3 to S6, that is, when all of the ID numbers 1to 4 are in an unused state, the processing may proceed directly to astep S12 without waiting at the step S11, and the control signal may bestarted to be transmitted. In this case, the control signal istransmitted every period of T4 from the starting point of thetransmission, and based on the period of transmission, the transmittiming of a radio unit 2 to be powered later is decided.

In a control routine for normal operation of FIG. 7, the microcomputer11 judges at a step S21, in the first place, whether there has beenreceived data from other radio units 2, and, when received, the IDnumber included in the data is in agreement with the own ID number, thatis, the ID number stored in the RAM 13. When in the agreement, theprocessing returns to the control routine for power-on operation shownin FIG. 6. On the other hand, when the ID number in the received data isdifferent from the own ID number, the processing proceeds to a step S23,at which a transmit timer is set at the own transmit timing according tothe ID number in the received data. When the judgement at the step 21 isNo, the steps S22 and S23 are skipped.

At a step S24, it is judged, whether the time of the transmit timer hasbeen up or not. When not up, the processing returns to the step S21.When it is judged that the time has been up, the processing proceeds toa step S25, at which transmit data of one block starts to betransmitted. At this time, another data is simultaneously received.Here, the data transmitted at the step S25 is generated according to theoperation situations of the levers 5 and 6, and the shooting switch 14in the radio unit 2, and the ID set flag is “0” at any time.

Then, it is judged at a subsequent step S26 whether data transmissionhas been completed or not. When completed, the processing proceeds to astep S27, at which the data which has been allowed to start to transmitat the previous step S25 is compared with the data which has beenreceived in parallel with the transmitting. When not in the agreement,it is judged that radio interference has occurred, and the processingreturns to the control routine for power-on operation shown in FIG. 6.When in the agreement, the processing proceeds to a step S28, becausethe agreement may be deemed to mean that there is no radio interference.At the step S28, the transmit timer is set at the next transmissiontiming (after time T4). Then, the processing returns to the step S21.

FIG. 8 shows a control routine for ID setting, which the microcomputer21 in the tank model 3 executes to set the ID number, corresponding totransmission of the ID-number notification signal from the radio unit 2.

When the microcomputer 21 is powered by on-operation of the power supplyswitch 28 in the tank model 3, the microcomputer 21 repeatedly executesthe routine in FIG. 8 at a predetermined period. At a step S31, themicrocomputer 11 judges with a set enabling flag recorded in the RAM 23whether the setting of the ID number has been enabled. Immediately afterturning the power on, the judgement at the step S31 is Yes at any time,because the set enabling flag has been set as an initial value at avalue “0” meaning that the setting is enabled. When the judgment is Yesat the step S31, the timer for time over is set at a subsequent step S32in order to limit time when it is possible to set the ID number. When itis assumed that the radio unit 2 is powered, following the tank model 3,time required before the ID-number notification signal is transmitted isestimated, and the time set in the timer may be a value obtained byaddition of an appropriate margin to the estimated value.

It is judged at a subsequent step S33 whether the ID-number notificationsignal has been received or not. The judgment is based on whether acontrol signal in which the ID set flag is set at “1” has been receivedfrom the radio unit 2. In this judgment, the ID number included in thecontrol signal may be any one of 1 to 4. When the ID number notificationsignal has not been received, the processing proceeds to a step S34, atwhich it is judged whether clocking has finished in the timer for timeover. When the clocking for the timer for time over has not finished,the processing returns to the step S33. When the clocking has finished,the processing proceeds to a step S37.

On the other hand, the processing proceeds to a step S35 when theID-number notification signal has been received at the step S33, and,then, the ID number included in the ID-number notification signal isdiscriminated to store the discriminated ID number in the RAM 23. Atthis time, the microcomputer 21 functions as a code discriminationdevice and a code set device. Moreover, the receiving section 30functions as a notification-signal receiving device. A predetermineddisplay for confirmation is executed with the LED 26 (FIG. 4) at asubsequent step S36 so that users can confirm that the ID number hasbeen set. Then, at the step S37, ID-number setting is disabled, that is,a value “1” meaning that the setting is disabled is set in the setenabling flag in the RAM 23 to complete the control routine forID-number setting. Accordingly, after the ID number is set, unless thepower is shut off once and on again, an ID number cannot be set. Asdescribed above, the microcomputer 21 functions as a setting controldevice by changing the state of the set enabling flag.

By the above-described processing, a unique ID number can be set forboth of the radio unit 2 and the tank model 3 so that ID numbers forother sets and the unique ID number do not overlap one another.Thereafter, the ID number is included in transmit data whenever thetransmit data is transmitted from the radio unit 2, and operation of thetank model 3 is controlled, based on the control signal including thesame ID number as the own ID number. Here, when the judgement at thestep S34 in FIG. 8 is Yes, because the ID number is not set in the RAM23, the ID number in the control signal is not in agreement with the ownID number even when the tank model 3 receives any kinds of controlsignals from the radio unit 2 thereafter, and the tank model 3 is putinto a state in which remote control can not be executed.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the radio unit 2 andthe tank model 3 are independently powered, the radio unit 2automatically detects an unused ID number which does not overlap withthose of other radio units 2, and sets the detected number as an own IDnumber. Moreover, the set ID number, as well as the ID set instruction,is included in the ID-number notification signal to be transmitted fromthe radio unit 2, and the tank model 3 which receives the ID-numbernotification signal within a limited time after the power-onautomatically sets the ID number included in the ID-number notificationsignal as the own ID number. Therefore, users are not required toexecute any special operation for selecting the ID number, and any kindsof users can set an appropriate ID number in both of the radio unit 2and the tank model 3.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may beapplied in various kinds of forms. In the above-described embodiment,the control signal functions as a code notification signal (ID-numbernotification signal), for example, by including the ID set instructionflag in the control signal periodically transmitted in order to controlthe motors 25L, 25R, and the like in the tank model 3, but the presentinvention is not limited by the above-described form in which the codenotification signal has been generated. For example, other than thetransmit data, data dedicated for notification and set instruction ofthe ID umber is generated before the start transmitting of the controlsignal (transmit data) for control of operation of the drive unit, andthe generated data may be transmitted from the radio unit 2 as a codenotification signal.

The code notification signal is not necessarily required to be output insynchronization with the transmit timings of pieces of transmit data ofother radio units. For example, when infrared rays with high directivityis used for the carrier wave from the radio unit 2, a configuration inwhich the transmission range of the code notification signal isdifferent from the transmission ranges of the control signals from otherradio units causes no possibility that radio interference occurs evenwhen the code notification signal is output at the same timing as thoseof the control signals from other radio units 2. In a configuration inwhich the frequency of the carrier wave for the code notification signalis different from that of the control signal, the code notificationsignal may be output at an arbitrary timing regardless of the transmittiming of the control signal.

Though setting of the set of ID number is started in the above-describedpresent embodiment, by deeming that identification-code set conditionsare satisfied by executing a first specific operation, which is thepower-on operation of the radio unit 2 (on-operation of the power supplyswitch 7), the identification-code set conditions and the first specificoperation can be appropriately changed. For example in stead of, or inaddition to the on-operation of the power supply switch 7 an operationwhich is always executed at starting a game (for example, operation bywhich users hold the radio unit 2) may be set as the first specificoperation.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the power-on operation (theon-operation of the power supply switch 28) to the drive unit 3 is setas the second specific operation. The period after the start of thespecific operation until the clocking of timer finishes with or withoutsetting ID number is set as the set enabling period for ID numberpossible to be set. However, the set enabling period may be defined fromvarious kinds of view points. If there is an indispensable operation,other than the power-on operation, for use of the drive unit, theindispensable operation may be set as the second specific operation.

Automatic setting of the identification code is not necessarily limitedto the starting period of a game such as immediately after the power-onoperation. There may be applied, for example, a configuration in whichswitches which instruct setting of the identification code are providedin the radio units and the drive units, and re-setting of theidentification code is started even after a game may be started whenthese switches are operated. Since users are not required to select theidentification code even in this case, the advantage of the presentinvention can be enjoyed.

Though setting results of the ID numbers are notified to users, usingthe LED indicator 8 in the radio unit 2, in the above-describedembodiment, a selection-result notification device such as a LEDindicator may be provided at the side of the drive unit.

The drive unit is not limited to the tank model in the presentinvention, but also various kinds of models, puppets, and robots may beused as the drive unit. Communication among the drive units is notindispensable in the present invention.

As explained above, since the present invention has a configuration inwhich the radio unit detects the control signals from other radio units;an unused identification code is selected as the own identification codefor setting; setting of the selected identification code is notified tothe drive units, using the code notification signal; the drive unitsreceive the code notification signal and decide an identification codeto be set as the own identification code; and the identification code isset, users are not required to select the identification code and thereis no possibility that wrong selection by users causes setting of anot-appropriate identification code. Moreover, inconvenience in settingthe identification code is also eliminated.

1. A remote control toy comprising: a radio unit for transmitting acontrol signal including any one code being set to itself among aplurality of predetermined identification codes, receiving controlsignals including the identification codes transmitted from other radiounits, and determining a transmission timing of its own control signal;and a drive unit for being remotely controlled by the radio unit basedon the control signal, and the drive unit, determining whether remotecontrol can be performed or not according to the control signal, thedetermination based on the identification code being set to itself andthe identification codes included in the control signals, wherein theradio unit comprises: an identification-code selection device whichdetects control signals from the other radio units, responding tosatisfaction of predetermined identification-code set conditions, andselects one unused identification code based on detected results to setthe selected code as a self-identification code; a notification-signalgeneration device which generates a code notification signal fornotifying the drive unit of the identification code selected by theidentification-code selection device; and a notification-signaltransmission device which transmits the generated code notificationsignal; and the drive unit comprises: a notification-signal receivingdevice which receives the code notification signal; a codediscrimination device which discriminates the selected identificationcode, based on the received code notification signal; and a code setdevice which sets the discriminated identification code as theself-identification code.
 2. The remote control toy according to claim1, wherein the identification-code set conditions are satisfied when afirst specific operation indispensable for starting a game is executedby the radio unit, and the identification-code selection device in theradio unit starts detection of the control signal.
 3. The remote controltoy according to claim 2, wherein the first specific operation is apower-on operation on the radio unit.
 4. The remote control toyaccording to claim 1, wherein the identification-code selection devicediscriminates a remaining identification code except identificationcodes included in the detected control signal among the plurality ofidentification codes as the unused identification code.
 5. The remotecontrol toy according to claim 4, wherein when there are two or moreidentification codes determined as unused, the identification-codeselection device selects any one of the identification codes accordingto a predetermined order.
 6. The remote control toy according to claim1, wherein the control signal includes instruction-decide informationfor deciding whether setting of the identification code has beeninstructed or not in the code discrimination device, thenotification-signal generation device, while including in the controlsignal an identification code which the identification-code selectiondevice has selected, generates the code notification signal by settingthe instruction-decide information in a state in which setting of theidentification code is instructed, and the notification-signaltransmission device transmits the code notification signal at atransmission timing corresponding to the identification code set in thecode notification signal.
 7. The remote control toy according to claim6, wherein the code discrimination device in the drive unitdiscriminates, based on the instruction-decide information included inthe control signal, whether setting of the identification code has beeninstructed or not, and, when it is decided that the setting of theidentification code has been instructed, the identification codeincluded in the control signal giving the instruction is decided as theselected identification code.
 8. The remote control toy according toclaim 1, wherein the drive unit further comprises a setting controldevice which switches enabling and disabling setting of theidentification code, the code set device sets the identification codebased on the code notification signal, when setting of theidentification code has been enabled by the setting control device, andthe code set device does not set the identification code based on thecode notification signal, when setting of the identification code hasbeen disabled by the setting control device.
 9. The remote control toyaccording to claim 8, wherein the setting control device makes settingof the identification code enable only for a predetermined set enablingperiod after a second specific operation indispensable for starting agame is performed on the drive unit, and makes setting of theidentification code disable thereafter.
 10. The remote control toyaccording to claim 9, wherein the second specific operation is apower-on operation on the drive unit.
 11. The remote control toyaccording to claim 1, wherein the identification code is set in eachradio unit and drive unit by storing an identification code selected bythe identification-code selection device in a storage device of eachradio unit and drive unit.
 12. The remote control toy according to claim1, wherein the radio unit further comprises a set reservation devicewhich reserves setting of the identification code when the codeselection device determines, from detected results of control signalsfrom the other radio units, that there is no unused identification code.13. The remote control toy according to claim 1, further comprising: aselection-result notification device which notifies the identificationcode selected by the identification-code selection device to a user, andthe selection-result notification device being provided at least ineither the radio unit or the drive unit.
 14. A radio unit for a remotecontrol toy, comprising: an identification-code selection device whichdetects control signals from the other radio units, responding tosatisfaction of predetermined identification-code set conditions, andselects one unused identification code based on detected results to setthe selected code as a self-identification code; a notification-signalgeneration device which generates a code notification signal fornotifying a drive unit of the self-identification code selected by theidentification code selection device; and a notification-signaltransmission device which transmits the generated code notificationsignal, wherein the radio unit transmits to the drive unit a controlsignal for remotely controlling the drive unit, the control signalincludes the self-identification code selected from among a plurality ofpredetermined identification codes in the control signal to specify thedrive unit for remote control, and the radio unit receives other controlsignals including the identification codes transmitted from the otherradio units to determine a transmission timing of its own controlsignal.
 15. A drive unit for a remote control toy, comprising: anotification-signal receiving device which receives a code notificationsignal sent from a radio unit for notifying the drive unit of anidentification code which is set by the radio unit as aself-identification code; a code discrimination device whichdiscriminates the identification code set by the radio unit, based onthe received code notification signal; and a code set device which setsthe discriminated identification code as the self-identification code,wherein the drive unit determines, based on the identification codeincluded in a control signal from the radio unit and the identificationcode being set to itself, whether remote control can be performed or notaccording to the control signal.
 16. A method for setting anidentification code for a remote control toy comprising a radio unit anda drive unit being remotely controlled based on a control signal fromthe radio unit, the method comprising: detecting in the radio unitcontrol signals from the other radio units, responding to satisfactionof predetermined identification-code set conditions, and selecting inthe radio unit one unused identification code based on detected resultsto set the selected code as a self-identification code; generating inthe radio unit a code notification signal to notify the drive unit ofthe self-identification code; transmitting the generated codenotification signal from the radio unit; discriminating in the driveunit the selected identification code based on the received codenotification signal; and setting in the drive unit the discriminatedidentification code as the self-identification code, wherein the radiounit transmits a control signal including any one of identificationcodes set to itself among a plurality of predetermined identificationcodes, receives control signals including the identification codestransmitted from the other radio units and decides a transmission timingof its own control signal; the drive unit determines, based on theidentification code set to itself and the identification codes includedin the control signals, whether remote control can be performed or notaccording to the control signal.